Gezicht op een ruïne in Efeze en de façade van een gebouw in Turkse stijl te Damascus before 1899

This is a photographic print by T. Vafiadis, featuring ruins at Ephesus and a building facade in Damascus. The images reflect a Western gaze on regions of the former Ottoman Empire, likely produced in the late 19th or early 20th century, as European powers increasingly asserted influence in the Middle East. The romantic ruin and the 'Turkish-style' building facade visually index a specific vision of the region for Western consumption. Such imagery was widely circulated at a time when European scholars and institutions, backed by colonial interests, were actively documenting and interpreting the cultural heritage of these lands. To fully understand this print, we must research the photographer, the original context of the images, and their circulation. A critical approach that examines the institutional frameworks and power dynamics that shaped the production and reception of such imagery is crucial to interpreting it. Only then can we begin to understand this image’s place within the broader history of Orientalism and cultural representation.